Down by the water • TWD

Peace Maker.

Avery and Jackson sat against the tree by the horse stables. Just listening not nature and enjoying the scenery. Everyone has been on edge since the walker barn bomb was dropped. She was nervous herself, then she realized Jackson had been at the farm longer than Rick's group. Did he know?

"Did you know?" Avery looked at Jackson while he faced away from her.

"Yes." He looked down.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Avery's voice was soft, hurt he would put us all in danger.

"I thought it wouldn't matter, they aren't getting out. Hershel took me in, I won't break his trust." Jackson defended himself. Avery wondered what happened to Jackson's family. Did he have parents? Were they alive? 

"Why did you end up here?" Avery wanted to know. Jackson only raised his eyebrows in response. Carl's the only person besides Hershel's family to know this.

"Doesn't matter no more" Jackson played with his shoelaces.

"It does." Avery didn't mean for this to sound mean. All Jackson did was look at her.

"Why are you here? Huh?" Jackson was getting angry. She had no right to ask him that question and then get mad when he wouldn't answer. He's only known her for 3 days. Not enough time.

Avery fell silent at his rebuttal. He's right. She wouldn't tell him why so why should he? She sighed as she got ready to break the silence.

"I'm sorry, I just feel like I don't know anything about any of you." Avery watches an ant travel across the dirt waiting for his response.

"Avery you just got here 3 days ago, you have to give it time, and to be fair none of us know much about you either." Avery didn't think about that. She forgot she never revealed why she was alone in the woods. Honestly, she didn't want to yet either. She nodded her head at him singling she understood.

"I'm gonna go find Maggie, come with?" Jackson sat up brushing the dirt off his pants.

"Nah, I'm gonna stay here a little longer" She responded. Jackson nodded and turned on his way. She went back to watching the ants, there was more now.

"I'm happy you're here." Jackson stopped and turned his head expressing what he's been thinking. Avery smiled warmly at him before he continued on his journey.

She sat there thinking about what Jackson said. Thinking about her mom and Luke. She wished her mom were still here, that she didn't leave her.

Avery sat in her room playing with her stuffed animals trying to contain her boredom. She heard Dad get home from work a little over 20 minutes ago. The house was silent, too silent. She was getting curious. She picked up her stuffed animals and placed them on her twin bed. She took a quick deep breath before opening her door. She only really left her room for dinner, school, and to spend time with her mom when her dad was at work. Her room was her own space, it was safe.

She walked down the hallway towards the living room. She didn't hear the TV, which her dad usually turned on right after work. 

"Mom?" She was getting worried. She had a gut feeling something wasn't good. She continued past the living room towards her parent's bedroom. She knew she shouldn't be snooping but she was scared something happened. It was never this quiet. She wasn't used to it.

She came up to her parent's door and took a deep breath. She reached for the handle grabbing it. She stayed like that for a minute contemplating. If she opened this door and everything was fine her dad would be very mad. His rage was never something she wanted to be on the other end of, like her mom was.